Improvement in lamp-chimney cleaners



H. w PRUUTY.

Lam p Chi m ney-Cl sane rs.

Patented Feb. H,1873.

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PATENT Prion,

HENRY w. rnourv, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,665. dated February 11, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY W. PROUTY, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Device for Cleaning Lamp-Chimneys, of which the following is a specification:

Figure 1 is a top, Fig. 2 a side, Fig. 3 an end view, and Fig. 4 a section of a lampcleau or constructed in accordance with my invention.

My invention has reference to that class of devices employed in cleaning the inner surfaces of glass lamp-chimneys; my object being to produce a cleaner which shall not only combine simplicity, cheapness, and durability, but one equally adapted and effective in cleanin g chimneys of different sizes and forms, whether such be of regular or irregular diameters; and my invent-ion consists in making the main operating part of the device of a short cylinder or band of India rubber or other elastic material, or a band of such material bent into a tubular form so as to produce curved or U-shaped wings or scrapers on opposite sides of the axis of the handle.

In carrying out my invention in its most simple and practical form I make use of an annular band or cylinder of India rubber of about one inch in width and one-eighth of an inch in thickness; or, instead of a short cylinder of rubber, a plain strip may be used, the same being bent into a tubular form by bringing together and abutting or lapping the ends thereof. This band I compress into an elliptic or ellipsoidal shape, whose longer diameter is equal to the largest diameter of the ordinary chimneys in use. This band I so apply to the stock or handle as to preserve it in such shape when not in use; but when in use to permit it to conform and present to the surface of the glass two abrading edges in whichever direction the device may be rotated. Such edges, while yielding and conforming to the contour of the chimney, most efl'ectua-lly scrape and remove the carbonaceous and other foreign matter therefrom.

I would remark that two elliptical bands may, if desirable, be used, they being disposed at right angles to each other; but such, while increasing the cost, produce no compensating advantages. I

In the drawing, A denotes the handle or stock of the implement, having a Shoulder, a,

and tenou 1) formed on one end thereof. B is the head of the stock, having a shoulder, a, and tenon cl made thereon O is a cylinder, having a hole made through it to receive the tenons I) and cl. D is a thin tubular band of India rubber, which should have such width and thickness as to impart to it when in use both the requisite flexibility and the desired amount of abrasive power. Said band has holes made diametrically through it corresponding in size to the tenons b and d. This band is placed upon the said tenons, and the latter driven into the cylinder 0 and properly secured with glue or cement, thus firmly holdingthe parts of the hand between the shoulders to and c and the cylinder 0. This cylinder has a length sufficient to give the rubber the desired curved or ellipsoidal shape.

By my peculiar construction of the deviceviz., with the rubber band or yielding U- shaped wings formed and arranged as described-each, wing is not only enabled to readily yield and conform'itself, while being moved upward and downward, to the varying diameter of the chimney, but, being supported by a double spring, and the greater resist.-

ing power of the rubber in the direction of its width than that of its length, greater effective force is secured in maintaining the edges of the rubber in abrasive action upon the glass.

In using the cleaner a piece of cloth is placed over the end, and of sufficient size to cover the rubber and thus prevent the same from coming in contact with the glass. The cloth, on being forced into the lamp-chimney, becomes firmly attached to the cleaner by the adhesion of the rubber, while the elasticity of the latter forces the cloth outward against the surface of the chimney. In manipulating the device, the same, while being rotated upon its axis, is to have longitudinal movements imparted to it.

I claim as my invention- The above-described device, consisting of the stock or handle A B G and the rubber cylinder or elastic band D, combined and ar ranged as shown and described, and so as to operate as and for the purpose set forth.

H, w. PBOUTY.

Witnesses:

F. P. HALE, F. O. HALE, 

